interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第8节
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her； and even Mr。 Travers had slightly raised his voice。 Henri was divided
between a conviction that he ought to go away and a mad desire to join in
the conversation； greatly augmented when Sara Lee went to the window
and wiped her eyes。
〃If you only spoke French … 〃 began Mr。 Travers。
Sara Lee looked over her shoulder。 〃But of course I do！〃 she said。
〃And German and … and Yiddish； and all sorts of languages。 Every spy
does。〃
Henri smiled appreciatively。
It might all have ended there very easily。 Sara Lee might have fought
the War Office single…handed and won out； but it is extremely unlikely。
The chances at that moment were that she would spend endless days and
hours in anterooms； and tell her story and make her plea a hundred times。
And then … go back home to Harvey and the Leete house； and after a time；
like Mrs。 Gregory； speak rather too often of 〃the time I went abroad。〃
But Sara Lee was to go to France； and even further； to the fragment of
unconquered Belgium that remained。 And never so long as she lived；
would she be able to forget those days or to speak of them easily。 So she
stood by the window trying not to cry； and a little donkey drawing a
coster's cart moved out in front of the traffic and was caught by a motor
bus。 There was only time for the picture … the tiny beast lying there and her
owner wringing his hands。 Such of the traffic as could get by swerved and
went on。 London must move； though a thousand willing little beasts lay
dying。
And Sara moved too。 One moment she was there by the window。 And
the next she had given a stifled cry and ran out。
〃Bless my soul！〃 said Mr。 Travers； and got up slowly。
Henri was already up and at the window。 What he saw was Sara Lee
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
making her way through the stream of vehicles； taking a dozen chances for
her life。 Henri waited until he saw her crouched by the donkey； its head on
her knee。 Then he； too； ran out。
That is how Henri； of no other name that may be given； met Sara Lee
Kennedy； of Pennsylvania … under a London motor bus。 And that； I think；
will be the picture he carries of her until he dies； her soft eyes full of pity；
utterly regardless of the dirt and the crowd and an expostulating bobby；
with that grotesque and agonized head on her knees。
Henri crawled under the bus； though the policeman was extremely
anxious to keep him out。 And he ran a practiced eye over the injured
donkey。
〃It's dying；〃 said Sara Lee with white lips。
〃It will die；〃 replied Henri； 〃but how soon？ They are very strong； these
little beasts。〃
The conductor of the bus made a suggestion then； one that froze the
blood round Sara Lee's heart： 〃If you'll move away and let us run over it
proper it'll be out of its trouble； miss。
Sara Lee raised haggard eyes to Henri。
〃Did you hear that？〃 she said。 〃They'd do it too！
The total result of a conference between four policemen； the
costermonger； and； by that time； Mr。 Travers … was to draw the animal off
the street and into the square。 Sara Lee stuck close by。 So； naturally； did
Henri。 And when the hopeless condition of Nellie； as they learned she was
named； became increasingly evident； Henri behaved like a man and a
soldier。
He got out his revolver and shot her in the brain。
〃A kindness；〃 he explained； as Sara Lee would have caught his hand。
〃The only way； mademoiselle。〃
Mr。 Travers had the usual British hatred of a crowd and publicity；
coupled with a deadly fear of getting into the papers； except through an
occasional letter to the Times。 He vanished just before the shot； and might
have been seen moving rapidly through the square； turning over in his
mind the difficulty of trying to treat young American girls like rational
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
human beings。
But Henri understood。 He had had a French mother； and there is a
leaven of French blood in the American temperament； old Huguenot； some
of it。 So Americans love beauty and obey their impulses and find life good
to do things rather than to be something or other more or less important。
And so Henri could quite understand how Sara Lee had forgotten herself
when Mr。 Travers could not。 And he understood； also； when Sara Lee；
having composed the little dondey's quiet figure； straightened up with
tears in her eyes。
〃It was very dear of you to come out；〃 she said。 〃And…of course it was
the best thing。〃
She held out her hand。 The crowd had gone。 Traffic was moving again；
racing to make up for five lost precious moments。 The square was dark；
that first darkness of London； when air raids were threatened but had not
yet taken place。 From the top of the Admiralty； near by； a flashlight shot
up into the air and began its nightly process of brushing the sky。 Henri
took her hand and bent over it。
〃You are very brave； mademoiselle；〃 he said； and touched her hand
with his lips。
The amazing interlude had commenced。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER V
Yet for a day or two nothing much was changed。 Mr。 Travers sent
Sara Lee a note that be was taking up her problem with the Foreign Office；
and he did indeed make an attempt。 He also requested his wife to ask Sara
Lee to tea。
Sara Lee was extremely nervous on the day she went。 She wore a
black jacket suit with a white collar； and she carried Aunt Harriet's mink
furs； Aunt Harriet mourning thoroughly and completely in black astrachan。
She had the faculty of the young American girl of looking smart without
much expense； and she appeared absurdly young。
She followed the neat maid up a wide staircase to a door with a screen
just inside； and heard her name announced for the first time in her life。
Sara Lee took a long breath and went inside； to a most discouraging half
hour。
Mr。 Travers was on the hearth rug。 Mrs。 Travers was in a chair； a portly
woman with a not unkindly face； but the brusque manner many
Englishwomen acquire after forty。 She held Sara Lee's hand and gave her a
complete if smiling inspection。
〃And it is you who are moving heaven and earth to get to the Front！
You … child！〃
Sara Lee's heart fell； but she smiled also。 〃But I am older than I look；〃
she said。 〃And I am very strong。〃
Mrs。 Travers looked helplessly at her husband； while she rang the bell
for tea。 That was another thing Sara Lee had read about but never seen …
that ringing for tea。 At home no one served afternoon tea； but at a party；
when refreshments were coming； the hostess slipped out to the kitchen and
gave a whispered order or two。
〃I shall be frank with you；〃 said Mrs。 Travers。 〃I think it quite
impossible。 It is not getting you over。 That might be done。 And of course
there are women over there … young ones too。 But the army objects very
seriously to their being in danger。 And of course one never knows …〃 Her
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
voice trailed off vaguely。 She implied； however； that what one never
knows was best unknown。
〃I have a niece over there；〃 she said as the tea tray came in。 〃Her
mother was fool enough to let her go。 Now they can't get her back。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said Sara Lee。 〃Can't they find her？〃
〃She won't come。 Little idiot！ She's in Paris； however。 I daresay she is
safe enough。〃
Mrs。 Travers made the tea thoughtfully。 So far Mr。 Travers had hardly
spoken； but he cheered in true British fashion at the sight of the tea。 Sara
Lee； exceedingly curious as to the purpose of a very small stand somewhat
resembling a piano stool； which the maid had placed at her knee； learned
that it was to hold her muffin plate。
〃And now；〃 said Mr。 Travers； 〃suppose we come to the point。 There
doesn't seem to be a chance to get you over； my child。 Same answer
everywhere。 Place is full of untrained women。 Spies have been using Red
Cross passes。 Result is that all the lines are drawn as tight as possible。〃
Sara Lee stared at him with wide eyes。
